Archive For

“Say goodbye to all the cookie cutter screamo/emo/metalcore bands & hello to the upcoming sophomore release from Sister Sin. ”

-Its been little over a year since “Switchblade Serenades” hit the streets and we felt it was about time to announce that we´re entering the studio again on February the 1st to record what will be known as the “True Soundof the Underground” for a 2010 release

This time Henrik Edenhed will produce & mix. We will lay down all the tracks in Stockholm at Studio 301 and Cosmos Studios.

Blaze Bayley’s second studio album ‘Promise and Terror’ will be released on the band’s own label – Blaze Bayley Recordings – on 1 February 2010 and distributed by Plastic Head.

The accompanying World Tour kicks off in the UK on 6th February 2010 with European & South American tour dates to follow.

On 25 September the book ‘At The End Of The Day’ was released. This follows the story of ‘Blaze’ Bayley Cooke from Wolfsbane to Iron Maiden to BLAZE and, ultimately, to the current self-titled Blaze Bayley band. ‘At The End Of The Day’ is available to buy from the band’s website.

The double live album and live DVD ‘The Night That Will Not Die’, recorded at Z7 in Switzerland, have also been released on Blaze Bayley Recordings; the concert filmed by director Kris McManus and all audio mixed and mastered by producer Jase Edwards.

Multi-platinum, 2009 American Music Award nominee Shinedown and multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated Papa Roach announce co-headlining dates. Two of today’s biggest bands in rock, each delivering #1 rock hits this year (Shinedown’s “Second Chance” and “Sound Of Madness” and Papa Roach’s “Lifeline”) will kick off the tour December 5th in Highland Heights, KY. Tickets for Highland Heights, KY, Erie, PA and Binghamton, NY are available now and additional dates go on sale this weekend. To buy, please visit: http://www.shinedown.com.

One of the most successful rock bands of the decade, Shinedown has amassed a staggering record of 10 consecutive top 5 rock radio hits over their 3 studio albums. The Jacksonville, Florida-based band’s latest single, “If You Only Knew,” is already #10 on the Active Rock charts and climbing, with the companion video in rotation at VH1 and Fuse. Last month, Shinedown performed the song on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and, later this month, the band will be attending the 2009 American Music Awards, where they’ve been nominated for “Favorite Alternative Rock Artist” alongside Kings Of Leon and Green Day. “If You Only Knew” follows the breakthrough success of “Second Chance,” one of the biggest cross over hits of the year with nearly 2 millions singles sold and going to #1 at Hot AC and top 5 at Top 40 after topping the Alternative, Active and Mainstream Rock charts. Both songs are featured on Shinedown’s current album, “The Sound Of Madness.” Produced by multiple-Grammy Award winner Rob Cavallo, “The Sound Of Madness” debuted at #8 on The Billboard 200 chart upon release last summer and has since been RIAA-certified Gold, spawning 3 consecutive #1 rock singles (“Devour,” “Second Chance” and “Sound Of Madness”).

“We’re really excited to combine forces with Papa Roach on these dates. Just like us, they bring it every night for their fans,” says Shinedown frontman Brent Smith. “I guarantee you this… it’s gonna be LOUD!”

Papa Roach frontman Jacoby Shaddix adds, “We are stoked to be touring with Shinedown, we have a lot of love and respect for them. It’s been a long time coming, be prepared, both bands are going to annihilate the stage.”

Known for their electrifying live shows, Papa Roach have been touring nonstop behind their new album and fifth studio recording, “Metamorphosis,” which debuted at #8 on The Billboard 200 chart earlier this year. Papa Roach is currently on tour with Australian sensation JET and fresh off the heels of their summer tour alongside Nickelback. Shaddix says, “Playing shows every night is what we’re built for. We make a club feel like an arena and we make an arena feel like a club.” Indeed Hit Parader raves, “Papa Roach’s live energy is like a pack of wild horses — unbridled and uncontainable.” “Metamorphosis” has already spawned the hits “Lifeline” and “I Almost Told You That I Loved You,” with “Had Enough” hitting radio now. “Had Enough” and many other songs on “Metamorphosis” address the current social and economic themes prevalent today.

Shinedown will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the tour to the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. The hometown center works to educate and empower individuals and families through support, assistance and awareness within the community to optimize the potential of all individuals with autism and related disabilities. For more information about CARD, please visit http://www.shinedown.com.

Launching on this tour, Papa Roach has partnered with WHY (World Hunger Year — http://www.whyhunger.org) to support local and national efforts to end hunger and poverty. The band will be auctioning off special VIP fan experiences via http://www.paparoach.com including meet and greets, an interview with the band, side-stage tickets, soundcheck access and much more — with all proceeds going to WHY. In addition to raising money, Papa Roach will build awareness from the stage along their tour stops and visit local food banks and homeless shelters to lend support. The statistics are staggering: 36.2 million Americans are hungry and every day almost 16,000 children from around the globe die from hunger-related causes. Shaddix explains, “We’re proud to work with World Hunger Year to help those in need. We’ve been fortunate enough to have a voice and we want to use it by giving back. We encourage everyone to help out their local communities.”

“W.E.T” (Work of Art, Eclipse, Talisman) is an acronym for the bands which comprise this new act and if you are not familiar with the members previous work you should get ready for an album filled with big melodic hooks, fiery guitars, and melodies galore. Along with a little help from Magnus Henriksson, Guitars, and Robban Back, on Drums, W.E.T. have put together one of the best melodic rock records of the year.

“Invincible” is the perfect opener giving us a taste of what we can expect on this album right from the start with it grand keyboards, a driving intro from Martensson on guitar, and of course JSS’s vocals, who I think is one of the most underrated singers in the music business today. “One Love” was my first taste of W.E.T. and I was instantly hooked with it’s radio ready chorus, outstanding background vocals, and a great driving bass line that combined make you want to crank up the volume and sing along at the top of your lungs. Much like “Invincible” and “One Love”, “Brothers In Arms” is another radio friendly track custom made to light up the bics and cell phones throughout the stadiums.

Very seldom, am I impressed with ballads, but not only am I impressed with “Comes Down Like Rain” it is the best song on this album and quite possibly one of the best songs of the year. JSS sings this song to absolute perfection and Magnus Henriksson plays one of the best solos I’ve heard this year. “Comes Down Like Rain” is one of those songs you just want to put on repeat and listen to it over and over non-stop. “Running From The Heartache” is a mid tempo track in the vein of Giant and Foreigner, Erik Martensson continues to impress me with his keyboards which enhance this album instead of trying to overpower the album like a lot of keyboards tend to do.

Other stand-out tracks include “I’ll Be There”, “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”, “My Everything” and “If I Fall”. If you like your rock a little on the heavier side W.E.T. may not be your cup of tea, but if you like songs filled with sing along choruses, background vocals, and some stellar guitar and keyboards, W.E.T. will definitely fit the bill. I can’t see fans of Journey, Giant, Hardline, or Foreigner not having this album in their collection. Hopefully this will not be the first and last W.E.T. album, as I am definitely looking forward to seeing how the band can progress after this debut.

Rating: Out of 10

Track Listing:

01. Invincible
02. One Love
03. Brothers In Arms
04. Comes Down Like Rain
05. Running From The Heartache
06. I’ll Be There
07. Damage Is Done
08. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
09. One Day At A Time
10. Just Go
11. My Everything
12. If I Fall

W.E.T. is:

Jeff Scott Soto: All Lead Vocals
Erik Martensson: Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Background Vocals
Robert Säll: Lead Guitar on Running From the Heartache.

With
Robban Back: Drums

Magnus Henriksson: Lead Guitar on Brothers In Arms, One Day At A Time, I’ll Be There, Comes Down Like Rain, Just Go, If I Fall.